The worst part about Friday night: Serra standout Eric Redwood walking off the field at Independence High with his arm in a sling. The senior injured his collarbone — he said it is broken — in the fourth quarter and wasn’t on the field for the Padres when they moved inside the Bellarmine 10 with a chance to reach the CCS Open Division final.

The best part about Friday: The game.

It wasn’t as electrifying as Bellarmine’s 35-34 overtime win over Serra in October, but the playoff drama and the finish more than made up for the fewer points.

“It felt great,” Bellarmine’s two-way standout Kenneth Olugbode said of the goal-line stand in the final minute that sent the defending champions back to the final. “I never really felt anything like that in my life. I’ll cherish this moment.”

Olugbode mentioned that only a few players on the team know what it feels like to lose a CCS playoff game, and he was determined to ensure it stayed that way.

“A couple of us have felt what it feels like to lose on this day after Thanksgiving, in the CCS semis,” Olugbode said. “I recall that 35-0 loss to Palo Alto. We didn’t want that feeling ever again.”

On the other side, Redwood said, “We practiced all week, hard, but things didn’t work out the way we thought they would.”

Said Serra coach Patrick Walsh, “I don’t know, man, it’s God’s will. I have no regrets with the effort and enthusiasm of the boys. I think that will be the outcome more so than we came up a little short.

“In the long run, the only thing you truly can measure is enthusiasm and love for one another. And although those six inches ended our season, our love and friendship will never die — to me, as a football coach at a Catholic school, that’s my ultimate responsibility.”

Here are excerpts from all the semifinal games played Friday night and links to the full stories.

Taking over at its 11 with 6:37 left, Serra drove down the field again. The Padres reached the Bellarmine 26 after Kazakoff, with defenders applying major pressure, threw a screen pass to Redwood. The senior turned the pass into a 35-yard gain.

But Redwood injured his collarbone and was not on the field when the Padres moved to the Bells’ 10.

On first down, Angelo Arco ran 5 yards to the 5.

On second down, Cassidy ran 2 yards to the 3.

On third down, Arco ran 1 yard to the 2.

And on fourth down, the Bells stopped Cassidy at the 1 with 48 seconds left.

“It came down to one play, just like it did in the first game,” Bellarmine coach Mike Janda said, referring to the Bells’ tackle on a two-point play in overtime that beat Serra 35-34 on Oct. 13. “It came down to one play, and our defense made the play each time.”

Wilcox had just scored in overtime, and coach Dan Brown decided this was it. He gambled everything on a two-point conversion play.

Chargers quarterback Kenny Dipko took the snap and began running down the line, looking for an opening. He found a slight hole, dropped his head and tried to bull his way in for the winning points.

Aimonetti, with a little help from junior nose guard Bailey McNally, met Dipko and stopped him inches short of the goal line.

The host Wildcats rose from the pile with a 21-20 victory over the Chargers and a spot in the Central Coast Section Division II championship game next week against St. Francis, which beat Aragon 41-7 in the other semifinal Friday night.

Big plays made the difference in host Milpitas High’s 34-19 win over Sequoia in the Central Coast Section Division I semifinals Friday.

And the biggest plays of all were turned in by one of the biggest players on the field.

Vita Vea is listed at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds. An all-Mercury News selection on defense as a junior, Vea also gets spot duty at running back. He made the most of his opportunities Friday, running 40 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched the ball and 25 yards for another touchdown the second time he handled the ball.

“Actually I’ve gained some weight, I’m 300 now,” Vea said.

Milpitas advances to play San Benito for the CCS Division I championship Dec. 1 at Independence High.

“I really enjoy running with the ball, it’s a great experience,” Vea said. “My linemen gave me great blocks and (fullback) Brandon Sualua gave me great blocks. (Running backs C.J. Reyes and Squally Canada) help me a lot because it’s all new to me.”

Milpitas had its season end in the CCS semifinals last year, losing to eventual Division I champion Serra.

Menlo School quarterback Jack Heneghan starred Friday night at Seaside High as the Knights dropped the host Spartans 41-27 in the Central Coast Section Division IV football semifinals.

The loss spoils an otherwise perfect season for the Spartans, who came into the game with an 11-0 record. Menlo (10-2) advances to next Saturday’s title game against Soquel or Sacred Heart Prep.

Heneghan, a 6-foot-3 junior, dissected Seaside’s defense in a 240-yard performance. He completed 22 of 37 passes for four touchdowns and was not intercepted.

His Seaside counterpart, Michael Turner, was just as impressive, completing 12 of 20 passes for 296 yards, including four touchdowns. He was picked off twice, both times in the fourth quarter while trying to rally the Spartans from a two-touchdown deficit.

Can someone tell me why the FINAL CCS game is allowed to be played at Bellarmine’s home field? Doesn’t anyone see that as a bit of an advantage for the Bells?

Jacob Wang

Was there the crowd size that was anticipated?

Darren Sabedra

The CCS has had its top-division championship game at SJCC since the late 1990s. Before that, it used to play its title games at Spartan Stadium.

49er Jordan

GO MILPITAS and congrats and good luck to all CCS teams that made the finals. To the teams who lost this weekend keep your heads up, you all had GREAT football seasons. GO CCS and GO NINERS.

Mr. Hornblower

LG has cheated during its game vs. Wilcox. I have proof that there was cheating involved with this scandal. The field was unnaturally wet although the Wilcox coaches say it always like that. But as a meteorologist, I determined that dew was not possible because the Temperature at game time was above Dew Point Temperature by a good 5 degrees therefore dew could not have formed and also, it could not have been left over from the rain because 2 days is enough time for a field to be dry enough. LG has been found to water their fields, therefore they have cheated.

likeitis

Oh Hornblower – toot your horn somewhere else. That’s ridiculous. LG beat Wilcox by two TDs in the regular season – the rushing was about the same in that game. LG had 2 passing TDs – so watering the field would be a disadvantage for them. Am guessing meteorologists don’t know that. lol

Just a Fan

@ Mr. Hornblower Hate to burst your conspiracy theory bubble, but I run on the track there frequently and the football and baseball fields are almost always soft and wet.
On the other hand, “prepping” a football field to favor the home team is a time honored tradition at all levels of sport so you never know…

likeitis

@Just a Fan – but he’s a meteorologist…………………………

Just a Fan

Quite the match up of CCS titans Saturday in DII. St. Francis with 14 CCS titles and LG with 13. Sounds like some bragging rights will be set. With 27 titles and 10 runner ups between them you have to tip your hat to both programs.
Not too shabby concidering both have enrollments of around 1,700.

likeitis

Both have been blessed……………

philly

Mike Carrazzo steps down as the HC of the Leland Chargers according to his FAcebook page. Sad day. Such a great coach who did alot to change that program around.

BCP86

I have heard that 4 bell players have been suspended for the Open Championship game Alan’s possibly beyond. At least 2 are significant contributors to the team. I hope this doesn’t effect the outcome. GO BELLS!!!

BCP86

And possibly beyond.

likeitis

Darren – any news on the Bellarmine suspensions?

Just a blog

I would like to say congradulations to the Bells class of 2009 for there Pac-12 Honors:

CCS folks: Here’s an idea — hold the Open Championship on Friday night and have the four other championship games at one location on the next day. Games could be at 10, 1, 4 and 7. As a fan, I would love it.

likeitis

@seansullivan – similar to how they play the state championships.

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